KALAMAZOO, MI — For the past six days, people who knew Robert Medema have wondered how such a generous man could have fallen victim to such an act of violence.

But that was not what brought them together on Friday.

“His death is not the focus of why we are here today — it’s the occasion,” said Don DeYoung, a retired pastor who knew Medema when DeYoung preached at Twin Lakes Reformed Church.

Medema’s brother, Roger, and Roger's wife, Mary, were surrounded by friends and family at Covenant United Reformed Church in Kalamazoo for Medema's funeral. Additional chairs had to be set up in the aisles and the church’s entrance to accommodate the more than 550 people who attended the service. On Thursday, some 800 people attended visitation for Medema at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Memorial Chapel.

“There is to us today, a shock,” DeYoung said. “And yet, as the headline said, ‘Customers share memories of slain antique dealer.’ I believe it would be safer and more accurate to say we are here today to share our tributes, our thanks not for a slain antique dealer, but for a saved friend and brother in the family of Christ.”

Medema was born and raised in Kalamazoo on a farm. He opened The Emporium antique shop in 1968 and was known for his eye for quality and ability to connect with customers. He stayed in contact with handwritten notes and would remember them years after money exchanged hands.

DeYong said Medema started to attend services at at Twin Lakes Reformed Church in the early 1990s.

“He would sit over to the right and by himself. Friendly, but certainly, (I would) not call him gregarious,” said DeYoung. “To look at the sanctuary here today is to know that the number of his friends, customers is very much, to me, underestimated. “

The funeral service included some of the hymns that Medema loved: "O for a Thousand Tongues,” “Abide with Me,” and "Amazing Grace.”

At the beginning of the service, Roger Medema sang a special selections of songs to honor his brother.

“He found joy in the everyday, and the beauty of his flowers and the wonder of God’s creation and the amazing miracle of friendship,” said Nancy Cretsinger, a longtime family friend, whose husband, Dave, worked with Medema.

“He was truly a great man,” she said. “And no matter what evil deed has been done, no one, no one, takes Bob away from us.”